Roberto Germán [00:00:01]:
Welcome to Our Classroom. In this space, we talk about education, which is inclusive of, but not limited to what happens in schools. Education is taking place whenever and wherever we are willing to learn. I am your host, Roberto Germán, and Our Classroom is officially in session. Today. I want to share something a little different. Something that made me smile, made me pause, and honestly just made me grateful. Every now and then, you get a reminder that the work that you're doing is traveling farther than you think, that the seeds that you're sowing are growing in places you haven't even touched.
Roberto Germán [00:00:43]:
And that happened to Lorena and me recently. I got this voice note from my brother, Justin Luttrell. Justin Luttrell. And I need you to hear what he said. And. And I'm gonna go ahead and summarize it. I'm not gonna play the audio, but Justin was sitting in a breakout session with Dr. John Walcott, an educator, a professor at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and in the middle of teaching about book bands and difference between books that cause harm and books that expose harm.
Roberto Germán [00:01:22]:
He referenced Lorena. And then he says, and I listened to her husband's podcast, Our Classroom, and follow Multicultural Classroom. And, you know, Justin described it like this. It's a late 50s white professor in Grand Rapids, of all places, sounding out Roberto and Lorena and with Dominican flavor and loving the podcast and teaching our ideas in his space, in this learning space. Come on, y'. All. You know that. That's wild.
Roberto Germán [00:01:55]:
It's beautiful. Oh, man, I God showing up in this. And that's the work traveling on its own. And here's why this story hit me so deeply. It's one thing to see likes or shares online, and it's another to know that you're doing the work right. And it's shaping how teachers teach. It's influencing how professors teach, how future educators understand harm, justice, belonging, and representation. That's not small, that's not casual.
Roberto Germán [00:02:28]:
That's legit. And it reminds me that our stories, our language, our names, our culture belong in academic spaces. Not watered down, not mispronounced. Right. Let's get it right. Roberto Germán, Lorena Germán. Not filtered for white comfort or anybody else's comfort, but fully themselves. The fact that a professor in Michigan is using Lorena's ideas to help people understand harmful versus harm exposing books tells me this work is needed everywhere, and people are hungry for it.
Roberto Germán [00:03:09]:
And one of the things Lorena and I always talk about is how representation isn't just about characters in books. It's about who gets cited, who Gets taught, who gets brought into the room when you're not physically there. Because representation is not just visual, it's intellectual. It's cultural. It's spiritual. So to hear Justin talk about a white educated site in Lorena's work and listening to our classroom, man, that tells me the conversation we're having here matters. These conversations are landing. They're resonating, they're shaping thinking.
Roberto Germán [00:03:49]:
And that's what multicultural classroom is about. And that's what our classroom is about. This testimony isn't about us. It's about what's possible when you stay faithful to the work, when you lead with curiosity, when you commit to telling the truth, even when it's uncomfortable, when you believe that culturally grounded education is not optional, but it's essential. And Justin's message reminded me the impact may not always show up when where you expect it. I have a lot of expectations, but it's showing up sometimes in your city, sometimes in your state, sometimes all the way in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I never been there, but shout out to the people in Grand Rapids. Shout out to this professor.
Roberto Germán [00:04:38]:
I appreciate you, Dr. John Walcott. Shout out to you. Listen, here's the thing. If this work resonates with you, if this podcast has ever encouraged you, challenged you, or helped you to see the world differently, I want you to stay connected. I want you to go deeper. We're building something, a community, a membership, a space where educators, parents, and leaders can grow together. Not just consume content, but practice this work in community.
Roberto Germán [00:05:10]:
And if you want to be part of that next chapter, if you want to be in the room where this work grows, make sure you're plugged in. For real. For real. We. We are working on something special. So if you're not following us, make sure you follow us in Multicultural Classroom. If you're not on the email list, make sure you join the email list. Go to the website multiculturalclassroom.com and subscribe.
Roberto Germán [00:05:36]:
And stay tuned for our upcoming membership launch. We're excited about that. So your engagement doesn't just support us, it expands the reach, the impact, and the conversations that matter. For real. For real. So let's keep building a community where names are spoken with respect, where stories travel far, and where learning is rooted in. In love, culture, and justice. To my brother, Justin Luttrell, thank you for sharing that moment, man.
Roberto Germán [00:06:12]:
It blessed us so encouraged during the time that we need to feel encouraged. And to all of you listening, thank you for being part of Our Classroom. Make sure you share this episode with someone that needs the encouragement. Someone who needs the reminder that their work moves in ways that they may never fully see. For real. For real. Thank you my people, and you already know. Until next time.
Roberto Germán [00:06:41]:
As always, your engagement in our classroom is greatly appreciated. Be sure to subscribe, rate the show and write a review. Finally, for resources to help you understand the intersection of race, bias, education in society, go to multiculturalclassroom.com. Peace and love from your host, Roberto Germán.
